If you want to get more use out of your outdoor spaces, enclosing them with a screen room is a great way to accomplish that. With a patio screen enclosure, you can keep bugs out while also gaining some protection from the weather without eliminating the comfort of a cool summer breeze. It should come as no surprise, that if a screen porch is built incorrectly you risk damage to the foundation is it installed on. That can become a big issue if that foundation is shared with your main domicile.
First, let’s talk about what sort of foundations you might have or need for your new addition.
Crawl Space
Crawl Space foundations allow for a more seamless flow between your home and the new addition. These foundations are insulated, which means that your sunroom floor will be insulated as well, making your sunroom more energy efficient. The biggest downside to choosing this option is that it tends to be the most expensive one since you will be creating a lifted and insulated space.
Concrete Slabs
A concrete slab is a more traditional option that tends to be hardy in term. They are impervious to rot and do not allow for insect penetration. A concrete slab is a better option if your sunroom is going to be at the same level as your home. If this is your case, a concrete slab is a great inexpensive choice.
Existing Deck or Patio
If you already have a deck or patio you can consider using it as the foundation for your new addition. This is a logical starting point if your existing deck can handle it. Not all decks are structurally sturdy enough to sustain the poundage of an enclosure, so it is important to have yours properly inspected before you move forward. If your deck is decided that it cannot support the weight, adding some supports and piers can help to stabilize it.
Helical Piers vs. Concrete Piers
If your sunroom needs to be raised off the ground, there are a few modifications you can make to ensure that the foundation support is sufficient. A base made of concrete docks is a typical structure that many people use during their sunroom building. Concrete pier footings used to be the standard when it came to raised home additions. However, this method has caused several different issues over the years. Using helical piers to stabilize your foundation is the best option used in modern construction. It’s straightforward for builders to install and is ideal for homeowners who might deal with soil erosion, bad weather, and other stabilizing issues that might affect the sunroom over time.
The best part of these helical piers is that to install them, there is no concrete to pour, what this means for you is that you don’t have to wait for the concrete to dry and set. When you’re digging holes for concrete, you have to go back and top it off if it settled too much. But when you install a helical pier foundation, it can be done immediately without any cure time meaning the rest of the installation can move along without delay. This isn’t just used for sunroom foundations either. If you find your home is sagging, helical piers can be added to any area of your home, stopping the progression of damage.
Foundation Damage
Foundations can incur damage from many factors, such as improper water drainage, hydrostatic pressure, or insufficient framing and supports.
Foundation Damage from Improper Water Drainage
If water is not moved away from your home properly, over time the erosion can cause major issues for the stability of the foundation. When adding a patio enclosure or even a sunroom, you need to check the pitch of your roof. Making sure that the slope allows water to travel away from your home and foundation before allowing it to be built. You should also add an adequate gutter system including downspouts that lead away from the foundation; guiding water to a proper location.
Foundation Damage Caused by Hydrostatic Pressure
Hydrostatic Pressure can be a common issue that is overlooked. If you are unsure about how Hydrostatic Pressure functions, think of it like a water-tight fabric tube that is used to move water. Without water the tube is flat, but when you move water through it, the tube expands. Now imagine that tube is in the dirt, moving water will cause the same effect in the dirt under your foundation leading to cracks and fissures and cause damage over time. In addition, concrete is permeable, and can allow water to seep into it and deteriorate any wood structures touching it. If your patio enclosure is built with wood, and doesn’t have a water barrier between the wood and the concrete foundation it is bound to rot over time, no matter how much you control the path of flowing water.
Foundation Damage Due to Insufficient Support
If you plan to add a screen enclosure to your deck, there are some significant modifications will likely need to be made to the framing and supports of your deck to accommodate the extra weight of adding walls and the overall weight of an enclosure. If this wasn’t accounted for in the construction, it can lead to major problems down the road including foundation damage and damage to your new structure.
If this isn’t an option for you, there are ways you can avoid damage with the proper installation and preventative measures. There are a few things homeowners can do to help prevent foundation problems.
Make sure your gutters are kept clean: Clogged gutters not only defeat the purpose of having gutters at all, but they can lead to the backup of water pouring into the roof structures they are attached to. This can cause water damage to your roof or ceiling, as well as the downpour of water on your siding and foundation. Any of that can lead to hidden mold and long-term rot and deterioration. You should make sure your gutters are free of leaves, twigs, and other debris that could stop them from doing their job.
Make sure you choose a trustworthy Sunroom Contractor: If you choose a contractor based on price alone, you could wind up with shoddy workmanship and an enclosure that is doomed to fail somewhere down the road. Make sure you look at reviews for any contractor you are considering and make sure they are in good standing with any business regulations for your area. This will ensure that your foundation is in the hands of knowledgeable professionals and that the risk of issues arising in the lifespan of your screen enclosure is reduced.